So Putin called Obama to reach a “diplomatic resolution”. Earlier I wrote, looking at Russias short economic legs and Clausewitz that:
Now, as you have pointed, nobody knows if Putin wants to grab another piece of land and create that 'worse outcome'. But it is very likely that the costs in blood and Russian wealth will be considerably higher if he decides to invade Ukrainian mainland and that Putin knows it. However if he is able to get peace now the patriotic victory should not lose too much glory at home and in some abroads.Quote:
Russia wants of course peace now and de-escalation after having annexed unopposed a weak and defenseless province because it's politicians, lacking power and military means, (rightly) feared a bloody decision and an even worse outcome.
On the other hand he should know that even a mighty Empire with the largest mechanized army the world has ever seen can implode in the circumstances of economic catastrophe and collapse...